2 Samweli 3

1 Kulikuwa na vita ya mda mrefu kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi. Daudi akaendelea kupata nguvu zaidi, lakini nyumba ya Sauli iliendelea kudhoofika na kuthoofika.

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Wana wakazaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebron. Mzaliwa wake wa kwanza alikuwa Amnoni, kwa Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli.

Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam from Jezreel.

3 Mwanawe wa pili, Kileabu, alizaliwa kwa Abigaili, mjane wa Nabali wa Karmeli. Wa tatu, Absalomu, alikuwa mwana wa Maaka, binti Talmai, mfalme wa Geshuri.

His second son, Kileab, was born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third, Absalom, was son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.

4 Mwana wa nne wa Daudi, Adoniya, alikuwa mwana wa Hagithi. Mwanawe wa tano alikuwa Shefatia mwana wa Abitali,

David's fourth son, Adonijah, was the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah son of Abital,

5 na wa sita, Ithreamu, alikuwa mwana wa Egla mkewe Daudi. Hawa wote walizaliwa kwa Daudi huko Hebroni.

and the sixth, Ithream, was the son of David's wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

6 Ikawa wakati wa vita kati ya nyumba ya Sauli na nyumba ya Daudi Abneri akajifanya mwenye nguvu katika nyumba ya Sauli.

It came about during the war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.

7 Sauli alikuwa na suria jina lake Rispa, binti Aiya. Ishboshethi akamuuliza Abneri, “Kwa nini umelala na suria wa baba yangu?”

Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you slept with my father's concubine?”

8 Hata ikawa Abneri akakasirika sana kutokana na maneno ya Ishboshethi naye akasema, “Je mimi ni kichwa cha mbwa wa Yuda? Ninaonesha uaminifu kwa nyumba ya Sauli, baba yako, kwa jamaa yake, na rafiki zake, kwa kutokukuweka katika mkono wa Daudi. Na bado leo unanishutumu kuhusu mwanamke.

Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ishbosheth and said, “Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I am showing faithfulness to the house of Saul, your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, by not delivering you into the hand of David. But now you accuse me of an offense concerning this woman?

9 Mungu na anifanyie hivyo, Abneri, na kuzidi, ikiwa sitafanya kwa Daudi kama Yahwe alivyomwapia,

May God do so to me, Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as Yahweh has sworn to him,

10 kuuhamisha ufalme kutoka nyumba ya Sauli na kukisimika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi juu ya Israeli na juu ya Yuda, kutoka Dani hadi Beersheba.”

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

11 Ishboshethi hakuweza kumjibu Abneri neno tena, kwani alimuogopa.

Ishbosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12 Kisha Abneri akatuma wajumbe kwa Daudi kusema, “Nchi hii ni ya nani? Fanya agano nami, nawe utaona kwamba mkono wangu uko nawe, kuiIeta Israeli yote kwako.”

Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak for him saying, “Whose land is this? Make a covenant with me, and you will see that my hand is with you, to bring all Israel to you.”

13 Daudi akajibu, “Vema, nitafanya agano nawe. Lakini neno moja ninalolitaka kutoka kwako ni kwamba hautauona uso wangu usipomuleta kwanza Mikali, binti Sauli, unapokuja kuonana nami.”

David answered, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require from you is that you cannot see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me.”

14 Kisha Daudi akatuma wajumbe kwa Ishboshethi, mwana wa Sauli, kusema, “Nipe Mikali, mke wangu niliyetoa kwa ajili yake govi mia moja za Wafilisti.”

Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid a price of one hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15 Hivyo Ishboshethi akatuma kwa Mikali na kumchukua kutoka kwa mme wake, Paltieli mwana wa Laishi.

So Ishbosheth sent for Michal and took her from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.

16 Mme wake akafuatana naye, huku akilia, akaendelea hadi Bahurimu. Kisha Abneri akamwambia, “basi sasa rudi nyumbani.” Hivyo akarudi.

Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Return home now.” So he returned.

17 Abneri akaongea na wazee wa Israeli kusema, “Zamani mlitaka Daudi awe mfalme wenu.

Abner spoke with the elders of Israel saying, “In the past you were trying to have David be king over you.

18 Basi sasa fanyeni hivyo. Kwa maana Yahwe alisema kuhusu Daudi kusema, “Kwa mkono wa Daudi mtumishi wangu nitawaokoa watu wangu Israeli kutoka katika mkono wa Wafilisti na kutoka katika mkono wa adui zao wote.”

Now do it. For Yahweh has spoken of David saying, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'”

19 Pia Abneri akasema na watu wa Benjamini ana kwa ana. Kisha Abneri akaenda kuongea na Daudi huko Hebroni akaeleza kila jambo ambalo Israeli na nyumba yote ya Benjamini walitamani kulitimiza.

Abner also spoke personally to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went also to speak with David in Hebron to explain everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin desired to accomplish.

20 Wakati Abneri na watu ishirini kati ya watu wake walifika Hebroni kumuona Daudi, Daudi akaandaa sherehe kwa ajili yao.

When Abner and twenty of his men arrived in Hebron to see David, David had a feast prepared for them.

21 Abneri akamweleza Daudi, “Nitainuka na kukukusanyia Israeli wote, bwana wangu mfalme, ili kwamba wafanye agano nawe, kwamba utawale juu ya yote unayotaka.” Hivyo Daudi akamruhusu Abneri kuondoka, Abneri akaondoka kwa amani.

Abner explained to David, “I will arise and gather all Israel to you, my master the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, so that you may reign over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and Abner left in peace.

22 Kisha askari wa Daudi na Yoabu wakarudi kutoka katika kuteka nyara na wakaja na nyara nyingi. Lakini Abneri hakuwepo Hebroni pamoja na Daudi. Daudi alikuwa amemruhusu kuondoka, na alikuwa ameondoka kwa amani.

Then the soldiers of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron. David had sent him away, and Abner had left in peace.

23 Wakati Yoabu na Jeshi lote walipofika, Yoabu aliambiwa, “Abneri mwana wa Neri alikuja kwa mfalme, na mfalme amemruhusu kuondoka, naye Abneri ameondoka kwa amani.”

When Joab and all the army with him arrived, they told Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king has sent him away, and Abner left in peace.”

24 Kisha Yoabu akaja kwa mfalme na kusema, “Umefanya nini? Tazama, Abneri alikuja kwako! Kwa nini umemruhusu kuondoka, naye amenda?

Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you! Why have you sent him away, and he is gone?

25 Haujui kwamba Abneri mwana wa Neri alikuja kukudanganya na kupeleleza hali yako na kuangalia kila unalofanya?”

Do you not know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to discover your plans and learn everything you are doing?”

26 Yoabu alipoondoka kwa Daudi, alituma wajumbe kumfuatia Abneri, nao wakamrudisha kutoka katika kisima cha Sirah, lakini Daudi hakulijua hili.

When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David did not know this.

27 Abneri aliporudi Hebroni, Yoabu alimchukua kando kati ya lango ili aongee naye faraghani. Hapohapo Yoabu alimchoka tumboni na kumuua. Hivyo, akalipa kisasi cha damu ya Asaheli nduguye.

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly. There Joab stabbed him in the stomach and killed him. In this way, Joab avenged the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 Daudi alipolisikia jambo hili akasema, “Mimi na ufalme wangu hatuna hatia mbele za Yahwe daima, kuhusiana na damu ya Abneri mwana wa Neri.

When David heard about this he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh forever regarding the blood of Abner son of Ner.

29 Hatia ya damu ya Abneri na iwe juu ya Yoabu na nyumba yote ya baba yake. Na asikosekane katika familia ya Yoabu mtu mwenye vidonda, au mwenye ukoma, au kirema atembeaye kwa fimbo au aliyeuawa kwa upanga au mwenye kukosa chakula.”

Let the guilt of Abner's death fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house. May there never fail to be in the family of Joab someone who has a flowing sore or skin disease or who is lame and must walk with a staff or who is killed by the sword or who goes without food.”

30 Hivyo Yoabu na Abishai nduguye wakamwua Abneri, kwa sababu alimwua Asaheli ndugu yao vitani huko Gibeoni.

So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in battle.

31 Daudi akamwambia Yoabu na wote waliokuwa pamoja naye, “Rarueni mavazi yenu, jivikeni nguo za magunia, na muomboleze mbele ya mwili wa Abneri.” Na mfalme Daudi akaufuata mwili wa Abneri wakati wa mazishi.

David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner's body.” Now King David walked behind the body in the funeral procession.

32 Wakamzika Abneri huko Hebroni. Mfalme akalia kwa sauti katika kaburi la Abneri, na watu wote pia wakalia.

They buried Abner in Hebron. The king wept and cried loudly at the tomb of Abner, and all the people also wept.

33 Mfalme akamwombolea Abneri naye akaimbo, “Je ilipasa Abneri afe kama afavyo mpumbavu?

The king lamented for Abner and sang, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34 Mikono yako haikufungwa. Miguu yako hakuwa imefungwa minyororo. Kama mtu aangukavyo mbele ya wana wa uovu, ndivyo ulivyoanguka.” Watu wote wakamlilia zaidi.

Your hands were not bound. Your feet were not shackled. As a man falls before the sons of injustice, so you have fallen.” Once more all the people wept over him.

35 Watu wote wakaja kumtaka Daudi ale wakati kungali mchana, lakini Daudi akaapa, “Mungu na anifanyie hivyo, na kuzidi, ikiwa nitaonja mkate au chochote kabla jua halijazama.”

All the people came to make David eat while it was still day, but David swore, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.”

36 Watu wote wakaiona huzuni ya Daudi, na ikawapendeza, hivyo kila alichokifanya mfalme kikawapendeza.

All the people took notice of David's grief, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased them.

37 Hivyo watu wote na Israeli wote wakatambua siku hiyo kwamba haikuwa nia ya mfalme Abneri mwana wa Neri afe.

So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king's desire to kill Abner son of Ner.

38 Mfalme akawaambia watumishi wake, “je hamjui kuwa mtu mkuu ameanguka leo hii katika Israeli?

The king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39 Nami leo nimedhoofika, japokuwa nimetiwa mafuta kuwa mfalme. Watu hawa, wana wa Seruya ni hatari sana kwangu. Yahwe na amrudishie mwovu kwa kumlipa kwa ajili ya uovu wake kama anavyostahili.

Now I am weak today, though I am an anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too brutal for me. May Yahweh repay the evildoer by punishing him for his wickedness, as he deserves.”